The men's 2590 metres
steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:
* Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles
* Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...
was a
track and field athletics
Track and field is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of ...
event held as part of the
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, twenty-five athletics events were contested. A total of 74 medals (25 gold, 25 silver and 24 bronze) were awarded.
Multi-event competitions, the all-around and triathlon, were introduced, along with a 56-pound weight ...
programme. It was the only time the event was held at the 2590 metre distance, though the
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1900, link=no), today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad () and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 1 ...
had featured a similar event in the
2500 metre steeplechase. The competition was held on August 29, 1904. 7 athletes from 2 nations competed.
of the United States won the first of his three gold and four overall medals in the 1904 Games. Irishman
John Daly took silver, with Lightbody's countryman
Arthur L. Newton earning bronze.
Background
Steeplechase events had been introduced to the Olympics in 1900, with two distances at the Paris Games (2500 metres and 4000 metres). At St. Louis 1904, there was only one steeplechase at 2590 metres. The distance would continue to change with a 3200 metres event at London 1908, before the event was removed entirely in 1912. After
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, steeplechase returned with the now-standard 3000 metres distance at the 1920 Games; it has been held at that distance ever since.
Irish runner
John Daly was the favorite. American
Jim Lightbody was a distance runner who had never competed in a steeplechase before.
[
]
Competition format
The race distance was 2590 metres, with hurdles and a water jump. Only a final was held.[
The track was a cinder track 1/3 mile in length with one long straightaway.]
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics.
''(*)'' The distance of this race was 2500 metres and the track was 500 metres in circumference.
Schedule
Results
References
Sources
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 2590 Metre Steeplechase
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics
Steeplechase at the Olympics